Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement by Scott Ritter, and Ending the War in Iraq by Tom Hayden

Has The Peace/Antiwar Moment Failed? How Close Is It To A Win?

After over 6 years of internecine war, illegal government acts, loss of lives, money, and US reputation, one would think that the grassroots has been getting stronger and stronger with every failure of the Administration. However, the peace/anti-war movement had its high point in February 2003 and has been on a bumpy roller rollercoaster ride ever since. Some say the rollercoaster cars aren’t even linked up, aren’t on the same track, and few cars appear to be moving. Meanwhile the Bush administration and at least three of the leading Democratic candidates (Obama, Edwards, and Clinton) have all made the same threat to Iran: “All options are on the table.” Read into it what you will: “first strike”, “nuclear weapons” or even CIA-style destabilization. On the doorstep of a third, more devastating war, what should the beleaguered peace/anti-war movement do?

Two authors give timely and fascinating advice. Both books cost about $15.00–priced to be read by as many people as possible. They take different approaches and the authors may be in disagreement on a few points. But both are highly useful and can in fact be used together. And not just by the antiwar movement but any movement that must deal with the US political landscape.

Hayden’s “Ending the War in Iraq” is the rosier of the two. He is quite a cheerleader for the movement, seeing many positives in what’s been done so far. Before discussing the current antiwar movement, he has two chapters that cover a lot of pertinent history: Chapter One, the Vietnam Antiwar movement, and Chapter 2, the real situation in Iraq. The third chapter gives the history of the current Anti-War movement (from about 2001 onward). The fourth chapter is the core advice he gives to the movement: Put pressure on seven “pillars” or pressure points of the Administration’s Iraq policy. These are:

1. The support of the Iraqi State;
2. American public opinion;
3. Political support in the U.S.;
4. Military capacity;
5. Financial resources;
6. Our moral reputation;
7. Global alliances.

These pillars and the specific strategies of how to apply pressure will give readers insight, hope and energy. Even if you disagree with some of the targets or some of the strategies, you come away with a new and vital way to start thinking about campaigns. And you have good lessons on how to strategize for yourself, and concrete action plans.

Scott Ritter’s book is thinner and darker. Way darker. Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement is more directly critical of the movement. And by the way some peace activists – in particular Cindy Sheehan, have been critical right back. And Ritter has then replied to her with even more scathing criticism. What is the point of contention? Ritter recommends using lessons and strategies taken from war — from Sun Tzu to very recent Air Force strategies – to run the peace movement. This is not as crazy as it sounds, though obviously it’s tough for some people to swallow.

Remember, he’s been in the military most of his career and was one of the UN’s top weapons inspectors in Iraq. So he’s got an inside view of the military and dynamics in Iraq. He’s critical of the lack of coherent decision-making in antiwar organizations; he calls non-hierarchical groups “flat line” organizations. And he shows how advances in strategy that came from an Air Force Colonel can be used to outbox Military Recruiters, the Administration, and others opponents of the movement.

Word of caution – the book is slightly more abstract, talks more about the military, and his own history. If you are peace activist wanting to feel good about the last six years you won’t find much in Ritter’s book that will help you reminisce. If you want to think about where exactly movement organizations have stalled, and about new tools to make your operation efficient, pick it up.

Finally, both books are quite useful together. Hayden tells you where to put pressure and breaks it into concrete tasks. Ritter’s book focuses on your organization – making it stronger, faster, and smarter. Both can be used to turn the scattered roller coaster cars of the antiwar movement into a real formation. PS: In the activist section of Busboys and Poets are additional tool books for every aspect of movement building from fundraising to building membership. Years of hard won experience are concentrated into a bunch of books that may save you years of hard won experience.

Reviewed by Mark Cimino

]]> http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/book-review-waging-peace-ending-the-war-in-iraq/feed/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/new-and-featured-in-the-bookstore/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/new-and-featured-in-the-bookstore/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:22:42 +0000 andy http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/?p=59 Here is what is currently new and featured in the Busboys and Poets Bookstore!

1. We Are The Ship By Kadir Nelson
2. The Essential Chomsky by Noam Chomsky
3. Them by Nathan McCall
4. Visions For The Future: A Celebration of Young Native American Artists
5. Brother, I’m Dying - Edwidge Danticat

These are all importation issues surrounding the upcoming 2008 presidential election. If you missed our Obama Platform Meeting this past weekend, don’t worry! You can catch another one this coming Sunday at our D.C. location.

The Low-Down:

Date: July 27, 2008

Time: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Place: Busboys @ 14th & V

This is only one of over 1,000 platforms of Senator Barack Obama’s 50-state “Democratic Platform for Change” strategy. The goal? Listen to America and her needs.

Obama representatives will submit results from all of the platforms and a drafting committee will weave results into Obama’s platform at the Democratic National Convention in August.

For more information and to RSVP, visit: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4g4zl

Want to get involved with the Obama campaign? Meet local supporters and find out how.

These are all importation issues surrounding the upcoming 2008 presidential election.

Before you know it, lines will be forming at the voting booths –- only three and a half months from now. Be prepared for your vote by attending our Obama Platform Meeting, hosted by Obama fellow, Werner Hahn. Learn more about this year’s Democratic candidate in a short 10-minute informational film. Then let your voice be heard on these issues.

The Low-Down:

Date: July 20, 2008

Time: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Place: Busboys @ Shirlington

This is only one of over 1,000 platforms of Senator Barack Obama’s 50-state “Democratic Platform for Change” strategy. The goal? Listen to America and her needs.

Obama representatives will submit results from all of the platforms and a drafting committee will weave results into Obama’s platform at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Want to get involved with the Obama campaign? Meet local supporters and find out how. For any questions about the event, contact Risikat Okedeyi at 703.379.9757.

]]> http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/raise-your-voice-barack-obama-platform-meeting/feed/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/mahvish-khan-my-guantanamo-diary/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/mahvish-khan-my-guantanamo-diary/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:37:40 +0000 becca http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/?p=55 Hear American lawyer, born to Pashtun immigrants speak out on her new book about her experience as an interpreter and legal counsel for detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

An excerpt from Ms. Khan’s bio:

“During more than thirty trips to Guantanamo, Khan unexpectedly connected with the very men that Donald Rumsfeld called ‘the worst of the worst.’ She brought them starbucks chai, the closest available drink to the kind of tea they would drink at home. And they quickly befriended her, offering fatherly advice as well as a uniquely personal insight into their plight, and that of their families thousands of miles away.”

Event details:

• July 15, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
• DC location

The Book:

]]> http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/07/mahvish-khan-my-guantanamo-diary/feed/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/06/derrick-weston-brown-event/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/06/derrick-weston-brown-event/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:05:31 +0000 jamie http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/?p=53 Derrick Weston Brown, the poet-in-residence at Busboys and Poets, will be performing at the Hillyer Open Mic Event (HOME) tomorrow, Friday, June 19th from 6-9pm at the Hillyer Art Space Gallery in DuPont Circle.

Many of Derrick’s academic years were spent here in Washington where he studied poetry under Dr. Tony Medina at Howard University and Cornelius Eady at American University. Derrick holds an MFA in Creative Writing from American University.

Derrick is the author of a chapbook, The Unscene (published in 2006), and his work has appeared in DrumVoices Review, The New Orleans Times-Picayune, Black Issues & Book Reviews, and the Cave Canem Poetry Anthologies of 2002 and 2003. He is a Cave Canem fellow and we are extremely proud to have him as our poet-in-residence.

If you’re in the neighborhood (9 Hillyer Court, NW Washington DC 20008) and craving some quality entertainment, then stop by and show your support for Derrick!

We became believers in the power of positive vegan desserts after sampling the goods from Vegan Treats , a 10-year-old bakery based in Bethlehem, Pa. The rich cakes, huge cookies, sticky buns, doughnuts, whoopie pies and loaded brownies are dairy-free, egg-free and “cruelty-free,” says owner and vegan Danielle Konya. They look great, too.

Of course, the Post is sure to note that Busboys and Poets also features this line of vegan delectables:

In our area, Busboys and Poets has carried Vegan Treats for about two months and reports that customers are “hot” for the products. It sells the cheesecake ($5.95 per slice), cookies ($2.95) and chocolate or peanut-butter brownies ($5.95, served with soy ice cream) at both locations, on 14th Street NW and in Shirlington (202-387-7638 and 703-379-9756, respectively).

So if you come by the DC location tonight for the Tastemakers For Obama with DJ JahSonic event– or the Shirlington spot for our Organic Beer Happy Hour– do yourself a major favor by grubbing down on a vegan dessert, or something else from our full menu, while you’re here. You’ll be glad you did.

Our very own Andy Shallal was an honored guest at the 13th annual Summer Peacebuilding Institute– where he spoke about his experience as a child in 1966, emigrating from Iraq to the dream of America, only to experience the riots following Dr. King’s assasination and watching smoke rise from rioting central Washington D.C., where he would later found Busboys and Poets.

“I never thought of America as a country as much as a dream. . . . freedom, equality, justice and the rule of law. This is the reason people want to come here, more than great plumbing. I want to hold this country to its ideals.”

The Summer Peacebuilding Institute is held at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA, from May 5 through June 13.

]]> http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/05/andy-shallal-visits-the-summer-peacebuilding-institute/feed/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/05/so-delicious/ http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/2008/05/so-delicious/#comments Thu, 22 May 2008 04:16:06 +0000 bryan http://busboysandpoets.com/blog/?p=48 An extremely fresh D.C. blog about all things D.C.– titled, appropriately, So D.C. (how many times can you say “D.C.” in one sentence? uh, four so far, thanks)– boasts a new write-up of favorite spots in town in a post called “How D.C.” (five!)

The news? The most favorably reviewed locale was judged according to its food… and that locale was the restaurant at Busboys and Poets:

A quick dinner here reminded me of why I liked it so much during my first visit. We got to eat dinner (a fuji apple and gorgonzola panini and a poached pear, pecan and goat cheese salad) on a really comfortable couch rather than at a table and were struck both by the great service and how many different types of people the place seemed to attract.

A gorgonzona panini? If that ain’t a literary treat, I don’t know what is.

Last time I had the meatloaf– which, by the way, is incredible– but I think I have a gorgonzola panini on the horizon.